When Given was last at Boro, he arrived on the back of a prolonged spell on the bench. Now he’s arriving after a spell on the pitch.

The stopper played for Villa in the FA Cup final and semi-final as well as making league appearances at the back end of the campaign.

He’s back in favour for Ireland as well, playing for his country in the games against England and Scotland last month. That despite the fact he retired from international football three years ago.

He might be 39, but Given is still very much a keeper capable of playing week in, week out.

He arrives with coaching experience

One minute Shay Given found himself as Aston Villa’s third choice goalkeeper, the next minute he was on the bench as a member of the coaching staff.

When Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa were suspended at Aston Villa in April last season, Paul Lambert turned to one of his most trustworthy, experienced pros to help him out.

Of course, Given would have preferred to have been playing but suddenly the former Newcastle and Blackburn stopper was involved on a weekend again in a role he relished.

“I’d love to be playing, of course, but now I’m bringing something to the team assisting the manager,” said Given after his first game on Villa’s coaching staff.

Republic of Ireland's Shay Given during training

“You miss that drug, that adrenalin of being involved and I got it back to an extent last Saturday.”

Given was quick to make his mark as a coach in an indication of his future desire, perhaps, accidentally sitting in manager Paul Lambert’s seat in the dugout.

That adrenalin he spoke about returned as he won back his spot in goal upon Lambert’s departure and Sherwood’s arrival.

But you never stop learning, as they say, and that stint as a coach will have done him the world of good.

With more than two decades as a professional and that spell as a coach to call upon, Given’s know-how would be invaluable next term.

Thousands of fans up the A19 may cast an enviable glance

Never mind Pavel Srníček or Shaka Hislop.

“The vast majority who saw him play, will agree with the sentiment ‘Shay Given was Newcastle United’s greatest goalkeeper’.

So stated a piece in Newcastle United fanzine The Mag.

For former Republic of Ireland deputy stopper Joe Murphy, that is a huge understatement. The now-Huddersfield netminder once hailed Given as the best keeper on the planet.

Shay Given in action for Newcastle

“I can say without any shadow of doubt that Shay Given is the best goalkeeper in the world,” said Murphy back in 2009.

“I just think that Shay has got everything you need to be successful as a goalie and his attitude to his job as second-to-none. He really does tick all the boxes as a goalkeeper for both club and country.

“OK, I know I haven’t worked with the likes of Buffon, Casillas or Cech but I do believe there is no-one better on earth than Shay Given.”

Judging by those complimentary words, Murphy won’t be one bit surprised if Given played and kept two clean sheets against the Terriers this season.

He’s either very superstitious or believes in miracles

We know that footballers, and sports stars in general, are a superstitious bunch.

And Given is no different.

If you see him place a small vial of water in the net before a game then don’t be tricked into thinking it’s a few drops of Highland Spring.

“I carry it in my kit bag and it goes everywhere with me,” he told the Irish News of the World in 2002.

Let’s hope it brings Boro some good fortune next season.

He’s up there with the best keepers in Premier League history

What do Shay Given, Petr Cech, Edwin van der Sar and Fabien Barthez have in common?

They’ve all been named as keepers in the PFA’s Premier League team of the year in the past.

In fact, Given has been selected twice, in 2001/02 and 2005/06.

Shay Given during his time at Manchester City

He wasn’t in bad company. The first time he was picked he had Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Ryan Giggs for company. On the second occasion he was part of a team that also included Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney.

Back in 1996 Shay Given won promotion with First Division champions Sunderland.

That was at the very start of his career, now he’ll be hoping to repeat the trick in the North East 20 years on.